Hijama in Arabic is derived from ‘hajm’ which mean ‘sucking’. Al Hajjaam means the cupper, hijaamah is the profession of cupping, and the word ‘mihjam’ is used to describe the vessel in which the blood is collected and the lancet used by the cupper.

Hijama is also commonly known as ‘cupping’. Hijama refers to the extraction of blood from key point in the body by the mean of cupping using a suitable vessel or whatever modern equipment serves the same purpose.

The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and all of the blood and lymphatic vessels in the body.

The heart acts as a pump to drive the blood; a complex fluid made up of digested food materials, respiratory gasses (oxygen being carried in, carbon dioxide being carried out), and protective and regulatory chemicals through the approximately 60,000 miles of vessels in the body.

Cupping (hijama) does not heal your body or have a direct effect on individual medical problems; per se. Cupping cleans the bodies’ cardiovascular system so disease never has a chance to develop.

Where disease already exists, cupping cleans the system to help the system better fight and recover from the disease. Noticeable benefits from cupping often come weeks, even months after a cupping (hijama) session. It is very foolish to wait till the point that your body is showing signs of problems.

Cupping is best utilized as a preventative maintenance procedure for your body. In short, it better enables your body to heal itself, no drugs, no expensive treatment or therapy and above all, no operations.

Cupping removes dead blood cells from the cardiovascular system. It is a bit like getting your radiator flushed. It should be done before your car overheats and the damage to your engine block or hoses are done.

Practitioners who emphasize cupping as a cure are like auto mechanics who claim flushing your radiator will cure your cracked engine block. Of course, your radiator should be flushed, but if it were properly maintained no damage would have resulted to your engine in the first place.

Fortunately the body, unlike an engine block can often repair itself. In the case of some ailments and conditions cupping, most effectively if they are applied soon after the event, can have a very positive effect.

Nonetheless, it is always better to use cupping as a maintenance and preventative procedure. Cupping is of three types:

a. Dry cupping: this is the process of using a vacuum on different areas of body in order to gather the blood in that area without incisions

b. Dry massage cupping: this is similar to dry cupping but olive oil is applied to the skin, before applying the cups in order to allow easy movement of the cups. This process allows the blood to flow and reach all parts of the body

c. Wet cupping (hijama); this is the process of using a vacuum at different key point on the body but with small incisions in order to remove ‘harmful’ blood which lies just beneath the surface of the skin. Wet cupping should only be administered by a cupping or hijama expert. This is the method I use in most cupping sessions.

Also known as Hijama. During your hijama session with me I will be cupping you using this method. Blood cupping is a very effective method and can be used for many of common diseases with high success rate.

This treatment removes blood stasis (stagnated or congested blood) comprising of acidic toxic waste which slow down or block the blood vessels (capillaries) and reduce supply of oxygenated and nutrient rich blood to and removal of carbon dioxide and metabolic waste from our body cells.

Accumulation of this blood stasis (stagnated or congested blood) increase with age and will cause our cells, tissues and organs to weaken, feel pain, lose sensation and function at lower efficiency.

Blood cupping helps the body to get rid of blood stasis (stagnated or congested blood) which the body is unable to do on its own. Each cupping point will be cupped one to two times for a total of 10-15 minutes.

Specific points are cupped to treat each disease. During any given session I cup about 2-3 points for generally healthy person and 3-5 points for someone with specific complain.

The mouth of the cupping vessel (nowadays we use glass or plastic cup) is placed on the skin at the site chosen for cupping. Then the cupper rarefies the air inside the vessel by using a pump or fire, so that the mouth of the vessel will cling to the skin.

The vessel clings to the skin and is left for a period of three to five minutes. Then it is lifted off and few small superficial scratches (cuts) are made in the skin using a clean sharp instrument such as a single sided razor blade.

Then the cup is put back in the same manner as described above, until it is collected with the bad blood that comes out. Then it is taken off, and may be put back once more if needed.

When it is finished and the cup is taken away & disposed, a dry dressing is placed over the site of the wounds. Cupping can cause mildly to moderately discomfort.

The degree of discomfort or pain varies from person to person and the location of cupped areas on the body. The sensation of pricking with blade during cupping is quite similarly to insect bites.

There are some rare side effects during cupping which are anxiety, feeling light headed, nausea, cold chills and fainting. Post cupping symptoms varies between persons, which include feeling relieved after cupping, feeling temporarily dizzy, weak, and tired or not much sensation.

Some people get very sleepy but are not advised to sleep for at least 4 hours after cupping. Some people become very active after cupping. You mileage may vary. In most cases people are in and out without any problems or much discomfort.

The site of the Hijama will be sore and bruised after the hijama. Generally, people heal from the wound and bruise in 1-2 weeks. It is quite normal for patients to report feeling light and energized days and weeks after the procedure.

The curative effects of cupping will continue months after the procedure. Chromic conditions will slowly begin to disappear over the days weeks and months to follow. Please feel free to ask any questions before beginning the procedure.

Do not move forward with the procedure of cupping if you do not feel comfortable with any aspect of it. Historically, money was offered to healers out of respect, not by demand.

Inconspicuously, money was concealed in an envelope or a gift was presented to the healer after the procedure was performed, with full manners and respect and with an intention to provide a gift.

Hijama is something done to revive the sunnah and means of bringing cure to people that seek treatment through sunnah remedy. Charging high prices puts the patients off from being cupped. And not compensating puts off the cupping therapists from offering cupping. This also helps recover the cost that goes in expensive cupping supplies.

Best Remedy

a. Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, "Indeed the best of remedies you have is cupping, in drinking honey, and in cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my Ummah (nation) from cauterization (branding with fire)” (Saheeh Al Bukhaaree 5371)

b. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam ) said, “If there was something excellent to be used as a remedy then it is cupping. In drinking honey, and in cauterizing with fire, but I forbid my ummah (nation) from cauterization (branding with fire)” (Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawud 3857), (Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah 3476)

a. Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam ) said, “I did not pass by an angel from the angels on the night journey except that they all said to me: upon you is cupping, O Muhammad” (Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah 3477)

Salma (may Allah be pleased with him), the servant of the messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam ) said, “Whenever someone would complain of a headache to the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam), he (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) would advise them to perform cupping” (Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawud (3858)

Strengthening Intellect and Memory

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam ) said, “Cupping on an empty stomach is best. In it is a cure and a blessing. It improves the intellect and the memory. So cup yourselves with the blessing of Allaah on Thursday. Keep away from cupping on Wednesday, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday to be safe. Perform cupping on Monday and Tuesday for it is the day that Allah saved Ayoub from the trial. He was inflicted with the trial on Wednesday. You will not find leprosy except (by being cupped) on Wednesday or Wednesday night” (Saheeh Sunan Ibn Majah (3487)